As San Francisco bade farewell to Barry Bonds last Wednesday, about 30 “at-risk” city youths said hello to Giants management, learned about the baseball business and picked up tips on how to kick-start a career.

SF State alumnus, Shakeel Ali made this opportunity possible through Pathways For Kids (PFK), a San Francisco based non-profit organization founded in 1998 to inspire academic achievement and career awareness in disadvantaged youth.

Ali, 37, became the full-time program director for PFK in the summer of 2006 and began connecting economically disadvantaged youth with volunteer mentors or coaches, who have achieved success in a wide variety of businesses and professions.

“I always had an intent to bridge the gap between students and the community,” said Ali, who graduated from SF State with a Bachelor’s in liberal studies, social sciences & ethnic studies in 2004.

Ali has been involved in activism since he was 19, working in local schools while attending college. After taking classes at City College for two years, he enrolled at SF State in 2002. During his years at the university, he was the Moorish sports club president and a member of the Black Student Union and School of African Philosophy.

Peter L. Dwares, founder and Chairman of PFK, wanted to take the organization to the next level in community involvement. Dwares said he heard from an advisor that Ali was very in touch with the community PFK is trying to serve and met him for lunch.

“He was perfect,” said Dwares, who hired Ali immediately after the meeting.

In addition to helping with the PFK, Ali runs Ali International, a series of projects and organizations that revolve around education, community activism, music and entrepreneurship.

One of the programs is The Alternative School of Knowledge (ASK), a three-part outreach project designed to help underprivileged and “at risk” city youth to develop business skills, self-confidence and knowledge by focusing primarily on economics, education and entertainment.

Through ASK, Ali works closely with organizations throughout the greater Bay Area including the Help Increase the Peace Program, which teaches youth and adults communication skills for conflict resolution; Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, designed to help create a climate of safety and respect in middle schools; and Ripple Effects, a software and live training program that aims toward education and positive change.

Beyond teaching career skills, Ali also promotes what he calls “conscious street music” within communities through Berkeley’s Report Radio (KPFA 94.1) and Bayshore Business, a hip-hop production company that allows Ali to mentor and guide young artists towards developing entrepreneurial skills.

“[Ali] comes from the same communities [he mentors] and knows what [the kids] are going through,” said Dwares, whose goal is that the coaches reach the city’s youth. “[Ali] is great and he keeps getting better.”

Ali brought together partnering community organizers to AT&T Park to give his students insights into obtaining a career.

Virginia Marshall, Ali’s former teacher at Philip Burton High School, was at the event through the after-school program, Citywide Tutorial, designed “to assist and provide San Francisco African American students with extended learning opportunities through after school enhanced learning activities.”

“I am very proud of [Ali],” said Marshall. “It is nice to see an African American male being a mentor. It is good for our youth to see him.”

Craig Solomon, SF Giants manager of season ticket sales and PFK Career Coach, helped Ali organize the “Giants day” event by arranging guest speakers, a conference room in the management offices and free tickets for the participating youth.

The speakers told separate stories about where they began and how they stumbled across their jobs with the SF Giants including a Q & A session where they shed light regarding everyday work, the challenges they face, and tips on how to land a career job.

“No mater what you like in life, get your foot in the door,” said Peter Dwares, closing the forum. “Find something you love and try to turn it into a business, a career.”